English
establishment
Establishment comes from Middle English *establishment (stablishment), from Old French establissement, from establir ‘to establish’.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400establir‘to establish’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400establissement
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*establishmentreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1787establishment
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400establir‘to establish’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400establissement
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*establishmentreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1787establishment
Earliest quotation: 1787, Article Seven of the United States Const: “The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall…”
Equivalent to establish + -ment
Latin stabilis ‘firm, steady’
Latin stabiliō ‘to make firm, establish’
Old French establir ‘to establish’
Middle English establissen ‘to establish’
English establish
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
state, system, post, stay, stand, constitution, stood, stadium, assistance, assistant, stem, assist, contest, consistent, destination, testimony, destiny, resist, static, insist, consist, prostitution, stud, prostitute, persistent, stool, substitution, persist, stale, stamina, stead, armistice, solstice, attest, restitution, astute, stow, testimonial, destitute, subsistence, 139 more
through Proto-Italic *staējō
arrest, instantaneous, distantly, restive, instantiation, 14 more
through Proto-Italic *staēō ‘to stand’
rest, distance, instance, substance, instant, distant, stationary, extant, distal, oust, obstetric, 19 more
through Proto-Italic *staðlis
through Latin stabilis ‘established, enduring, durable, immutable,…’
Today it means
noun The act or process of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement; confirmation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French establir / establishment